Cross-platform (xplat) tools for Nx workspaces

xplat is an added value pack for Nx which provides additional app generators and optional supporting architecture for different platform/framework combinations.

Currently supported platforms

• Electron

  Build cross platform desktop apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

• Ionic

  Build amazing apps in one codebase, for any platform, with the web.

• NativeScript

  Build rich iOS and Android apps with direct access to native api’s from JavaScript directly.

Quickstart

npx create-nx-workspace@latest

At the prompts:

What to create in the new workspace

choose apps

npm i @nstudio/xplat -D

You are now ready to create apps:

nx g app

NOTE: If you encounter any issue, you can try creating an Nx workspace with version specified, for example:

npx create-nx-workspace@14.1.7

App generation examples

The additional app generators can be used as follows:

Electron

Electron app generator can use any web app in the workspace as it’s target.
If you don’t have a web app yet, create one first:

nx g app sample

choose web

You can now use the web app as the Electron target:

nx g app desktop --target=web-sample

choose electron

Develop with:

npm run start.electron.desktop

Ionic

nx g app sample

choose ionic

Develop in browser with:

nx serve ionic-sample

Build Ionic app:

nx build ionic-sample

A. Capacitor iOS – Prepare for development

npm run prepare.ionic.sample.ios

You can now open in Xcode for further development:

npm run open.ionic.sample.ios

B. Capacitor Android – Prepare for development

npm run prepare.ionic.sample.android

You can now open in Android Studio for further development:

npm run open.ionic.sample.android

NativeScript

nx g app mobile

choose nativescript

A. iOS

nx run nativescript-mobile:ios

B. Android

nx run nativescript-mobile:android

Documentation

• Getting Started
• Fundamentals
• API Documentation
• Design Doc
• Wiki

Talks

• Super Powered, Server Rendered Progressive Native Apps by Nathan Walker and Jeff Whelpley
• ngAir 172 – xplat (cross-platform) tools for Nx workspaces with Nathan Walker

Recommended extra tooling

• VS Code
• Nx Console for VS Code

Example repos for different scenarios

• Ionic + Web: https://github.com/nstudio/xplat-sample-ionic-web
• Electron + Web with routing: https://github.com/nstudio/xplat-sample-electron-routing

Context

• Why it’s Hard to Decide on Technologies by Adam Klein